Professional Documents
Culture Documents
a. Ketamine
b. Duloxetine
c. Galantamine
d. Topiramate
2. KP presents to the pharmacy with a new prescription for Drug X. The pharmacist identifies that
Drug X has the potential to interact with another medication that KP is taking and contacts the
prescriber. The prescriber provides rationale for using the two agents at the same time. The pharmacist
and physician agree upon appropriate follow-up measures over the next several days. Which of the
following statements is correct regarding documentation of the pharmacist’s encounter with the
physician? The encounter:
a. does not need to be documented, as no changes were made to the prescription and the
pharmacist has determined it is appropriate to dispense the medication.
b. should not be documented, as documentation poses the risk of increasing the prescriber’s
liability if an adverse event occurs.
c. should be documented in the patient’s pharmacy profile and the patient should be provided
with a copy of the note to reduce the pharmacist’s liability.
d. should be documented in the patient’s pharmacy profile, with a description of the monitoring
plan.
3. According to federal legislation, which of the following examples shows a legally correct refill
designation on a written prescription for dexamphetamine?
a. Repeat twice
b. Repeat monthly
4. According to the Benzodiazepine and Other Targeted Substances Regulations, what is the expiry
date for refilling a prescription for lorazepam?
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a. Six months from the date written
5. Which of the following pharmaceuticals is regulated federally under the Precursor Control
Regulations of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, as a precursor chemical for illicit drug use?
a. Dextromethorphan
b. Dimenhydrinate
c. Diazepam
d. Pseudoephedrine
6. For a drug undergoing research and development processes in Canada, which of the following
statements is correct?
a. Application for patent protection is granted for a maximum period of three years.
c. Clinical trials involve three phases that assess animal safety and efficacy.
d. Health Canada, under the Food & Drugs Act & Regulations, provides Notice of Compliance.
7. Which of the following is the national voluntary organization for advocacy of pharmacists and
patient care?
8. According to Health Canada, a pharmacist administering a vaccine must document which of the
following information in the patient's record of vaccination?
a. Date of birth
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c. Post-immunization adverse effects
d. Drug allergies
9. Which of the following represents the greatest conflict of interest on the part of a pharmacist?
b. Sharing prescription profits with physicians who recommend the pharmacy to their patients
10. RY is an 85 year old male who lives alone and currently takes 12 different medications. For the
past two weeks he has telephoned to ask the pharmacist what dose of diuretic he should be taking (this
medication looks similar to another tablet that he takes). He calls again today with the same question.
After answering his question, the most appropriate pharmacist action should be to:
a. call RY’s family doctor to suggest changing the diuretic to something that looks different.
b. suggest that RY have the labels on his prescription bottles changed to a bigger font for easier
reading.
c. recommend that the pharmacy use a blister packaging dosette to dispense RY’s medications.
d. suggest that RY write down the answer to his question so that he does not need to phone again.
11. JQ is a 67 year old male with type 2 diabetes that is controlled with insulin. Today, JQ’s wife calls
the pharmacist to inquire what to do regarding JQ’s very low blood glucose reading (2.8 mmol/L). She
also notes that he seems to be confused. JQ’s wife should be instructed to:
d. retest JQ’s blood glucose level in one hour and phone back if it remains low.
12. RF is an 80 year old female who developed CDAD (Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea) after
recent treatment of a urinary tract infection with ciprofloxacin. She is admitted to hospital with severe
symptoms including profound diarrhea (eight watery bowel movements per day), severe abdominal
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pain, fever (39°C), and confusion. Based on her symptoms, which of the following is the most
appropriate therapy choice for her?
a. Oral fidaxomicin
c. Oral cholestyramine
13. CC, a 72 year old female, complains to the pharmacist that her stomach has been bothering her
recently. Current medications include: levothyroxine 100 mcg po daily (x 30 years), acetaminophen 500
mg po qid (x 5 months), atorvastatin 40 mg po at bedtime (x 4 years), ibuprofen 400 mg po tid prn for
joint pain (x 2 months) and zopiclone 3.75 mg po at bedtime prn (x 3 months). Which of the following
drug therapy problems is most likely contributing to CC’s recent symptoms?
14. AM has been taking bupropion XL 300 mg po daily for four months for the treatment of
depression and reports to the pharmacist that he is not experiencing any improvement in his symptoms.
After the pharmacist consults with the prescriber, it is decided to change his medication to citalopram
20 mg po daily. Which of the following is the recommended method for making this switch in
antidepressant therapy?
b. Stop bupropion and wait seven days before starting citalopram 20 mg daily
c. Taper bupropion over seven days and then start citalopram 20 mg daily
d. Start citalopram 20 mg daily and then taper bupropion dose over seven days
15. The pharmacist fills a prescription for sumatriptan 100 mg tablets for a patient with migraine.
Appropriate information to provide to the patient includes which of the following?
a. If the sumatriptan does not relieve the headache within four hours, ergotamine may be used.
c. If the headache returns, a dose of 100 mg can be repeated two hours after the first dose.
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d. The maximum dosage of sumatriptan 100 mg in any 24-hour period is six tablets.
16. JG has been taking metoclopramide 10 mg po q6h for the past three days as part of her
chemotherapy regimen. She normally takes four doses daily, 30 minutes prior to meals and at bedtime.
This morning, she forgot to take her morning dose before leaving home for a hospital check-up. When
she arrives at the clinic, she asks the pharmacist what she should do about her missed dose, as she
expects to be home again around 11:00 am. The pharmacist should advise JG to:
a. take the missed dose immediately when she gets home and continue as scheduled.
c. skip the missed dose and take the next scheduled dose at lunchtime.
d. space four doses into the remaining hours between when JG gets home and her bedtime.
17. EK is a 25 year old female who presents to the pharmacy requesting Plan B® (levonorgestrel) for
emergency contraception following an episode of unprotected sex 12 hours ago. After speaking with EK,
the pharmacist decides she is a good candidate to receive Plan B®. The pharmacist should include which
of the following counselling information for EK?
b. A pregnancy test should be done five days after completing Plan B®.
c. Plan B® will protect EK from pregnancy due to unprotected intercourse until her next menses.
18. Following a pharmacist’s interview of a patient seen in an asthma clinic, which of the following
findings should be documented in the “plan” section of the SOAP format notes?
a. Nocturnal symptoms
c. Dyspnea on exertion
19. For a child with asthma, which of the following factors is an indicator of poor control?
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d. Keeping one canister of salbutamol at home and one at school
20. Which of the following pathogens is most commonly implicated in acute bacterial rhinosinusitis?
a. E. coli
b. S. aureus
c. S. pneumoniae
d. N. meningitidis
21. DC, a 57 year old female, receives a prescription for celecoxib 100 mg po bid for osteoarthritis in
her knees and hands. DC's only current medication is acetaminophen 650 mg po tid prn for joint pain.
She enjoys a glass of wine with dinner and is a non-smoker. DC is otherwise healthy. Which of the
following best represents the pharmacist's assessment of DC's new therapy?
22. BG, a 45 year old male with type 1 diabetes mellitus, is currently using a premixed 30/70
combination of regular and intermediate-acting insulin subcut bid (before breakfast and supper). The
following blood glucose values are observed:
Which of the following is the most appropriate initial adjustment for BG’s insulin regimen?
23. For a patient who receives a chemotherapy regimen containing cisplatin, which of the following
is a significant adverse effect of cisplatin?
a. Ototoxicity
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b. Hepatotoxicity
c. Photosensitivity
d. Pulmonary fibrosis
24. Cyclosporine is known to inhibit cytochrome P450 isoenzyme 3A4. Which of the following
medications could have elevated serum concentrations due to inhibition of metabolism by concurrent
cyclosporine?
a. Amoxicillin
b. Atorvastatin
c. Metoprolol
d. Levothyroxine
25. FR is a 70 year old female client who presents to the pharmacist, complaining of nausea,
diarrhea, and dizziness for the past three days. Her medication profile includes: ASA, digoxin, enalapril,
and amiodarone. She denies any recent diet changes and the only change to her medications was the
addition of amiodarone last week. She believes she must have picked up a “stomach bug” and would
like something for symptom relief. The most appropriate pharmacist recommendation for FR is to:
b. take increased fluids and bed rest until the symptoms resolve.
26. FD, a 58 year old male with hypertension, asks the pharmacist if cranberry juice would be useful
for his current symptoms, which include frequency and a large volume of urine, but no urgency, or
painful urination. Further questioning reveals that for the past two months he has also experienced
polydipsia and polyphagia. The pharmacist should refer FD to his physician because these symptoms are
consistent with:
b. prostate hyperplasia.
c. diabetes mellitus.
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27. DS is a 27 year old male who comes to the pharmacy seeking advice because, for the past 24
hours, he has experienced abdominal cramping, mild fever and frequent, loose stools with some blood
loss. DS thinks it may be related to the antibiotic he has been taking for a dental abscess. Current
medications include: clindamycin 150 mg po qid x 10 days, started eight days ago, and losartan 25 mg po
daily for hypertension, started three months ago. The most appropriate pharmacist response is that
these symptoms:
a. are expected, transient side effects of clindamycin; treat symptoms and continue medications.
b. may indicate an interaction between clindamycin and losartan; pharmacist call to dentist is
warranted.
d. are probably unrelated to DS’s medications; treat for flu symptoms and follow up if no
improvement.
28. Following the measurement of high amounts of free cortisol in the urine of a patient, a
confirmatory test for the diagnosis of Cushing’s syndrome is a test for normal cortisol suppression,
through the administration of:
a. budesonide.
b. triamcinolone acetonide.
c. prednisolone.
d. dexamethasone.
29. For patients with a previous history of gastric ulcers who require ASA daily for stroke
prophylaxis, which of the following is the most effective management strategy?
30. CY is a 58 year old female who has heart failure (NYHA III). Her physician wants CY to start
therapy with spironolactone or eplerenone. Which of the following adverse effects is found significantly
more often with spironolactone than with eplerenone?
a. Bradycardia
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b. Gynecomastia
c. Hyperkalemia
d. Prolonged QT interval
31. Which of the following medications is most likely to cause drug-induced leg cramps?
a. Lithium
b. Citalopram
c. Alprazolam
d. Zopiclone
32. When assessing a patient with a localized purulent cellulitis, which of the following indicates
that antibiotics active against MRSA are required?
33. CV is a 68 year old female with hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and COPD. She has a documented
allergy to sulfonamides (rash all over body). CV takes the following medications:
CV was recently admitted to hospital for a NSTEMI and underwent coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)
surgery three days ago. Which of the following antiplatelet regimens is optimal for CV following her
CABG?
a. EC-ASA 325 mg po daily for one month post-CABG; then EC-ASA 80 mg po daily for one year
post- CABG
b. EC-ASA 325 mg po daily for one month post-CABG; then EC-ASA 80 mg po daily for life-long
treatment
c. Clopidogrel 600 mg po once for one dose; then clopidogrel 75 mg po daily for life-long
treatment
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d. EC-ASA 80 mg po daily + clopidogrel 75 mg po daily for one year post-CABG; then EC-ASA 80 mg
po daily alone for life-long treatment
34. LT is a 38 year old male who presents to his family health team with symptoms of influenza. The
symptoms started 72 hours ago. His past medical history includes asthma and seasonal allergies. LT's
medications include: Symbicort® Turbuhaler® (budesonide 200 mcg/formoterol 6 mcg) bid, salbutamol
100 mcg inhaled qid prn, and cetirizine 10 mg po daily prn. He reports that he is experiencing increasing
shortness of breath and frequent use of salbutamol. A nasopharyngeal swab is sent for viral PCR. Which
of the following anti-infectives is the most appropriate initial therapy for LT?
a. No anti-infective should be initiated as LT's symptoms have been present for more than 48
hours
b. Oral amantadine
c. Oral oseltamivir
d. Inhaled zanamivir
35. GT is a 59 year old female who has a stressful job that requires her to stand most of the day. She
drinks two to three cups of coffee each day. Her medical history includes hypothyroidism, eczema on
her face and legs, and muscle pain in her legs. Her current medications include:
Betamethasone valerate 0.1% ointment bid to body Tacrolimus 0.1% ointment once daily on face
Acetaminophen 500 mg po tid prn
GT reports to the pharmacist that she frequently doesn't sleep well due to the pain in her legs. She
moves around in bed to find a comfortable position but can't find one. She has tried diphenhydramine
25 mg po at bedtime for several nights, but it has not helped and she is feeling exhausted most
days. Which of the following is an appropriate initial recommendation from the pharmacist?
a. "Exercise moderately, stretch your legs, and take a warm bath before going to bed"
b. "Arrange to see your physician as soon as possible for an assessment of your thyroid function"
36. Which of the following is a rare but serious risk associated with the use tofacitinib in rheumatoid
arthritis patients?
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a. Agranulocytosis
b. Stevens-Johnson syndrome
c. Torsades de pointes
d. Thrombosis
37. Appropriate auxiliary labelling for clarithromycin suspension includes which of the following?
d. Keep refrigerated
38. A biological safety cabinet would be the best choice for preparing a parenteral formulation of:
a. alteplase.
b. doxorubicin.
c. nitroglycerin.
d. penicillin.
39. A physician wants to switch a terminally-ill patient from slow release morphine sulphate tablets,
15 mg po twice daily, to a liquid morphine sulphate dosage form because the patient has difficulty in
swallowing tablets. If a morphine sulphate solution containing 5 mg per mL is prescribed q4h, what
volume should be dispensed for a 20-day supply to provide the same pain relief as the tablet regimen?
a. 20 mL
b. 60 mL
c. 100 mL
d. 120 mL
40. A patient is currently taking 220 mg of anhydrous zinc sulphate. To receive the equivalent
amount of elemental zinc, how many milligrams of zinc sulphate heptahydrate (⋅7 H2O) would the
patient require? (Molecular weights: zinc 65, ZnSO4 161, H20 18)
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a. 123 mg
b. 220 mg
c. 300 mg
d. 392 mg
41. Given that 30 g of a mild corticosteroid ointment covers the entire surface of any adult for one
application, how much ointment (in grams) should be dispensed for an 18 year old patient who requires
treatment on approximately 20% of her body with twice daily application for 14 days?
a. 12 g
b. 84 g
c. 124 g
d. 168 g
42. A patient in an intensive care unit is ordered a dopamine intravenous infusion to start at a rate
of 5 mcg/kg/min. If the patient weighs 158 pounds and dopamine is available as a premixed intravenous
solution containing 200 mg/250 mL, what is the hourly infusion rate?
a. 3 mL/h
b. 9 mL/h
c. 27 mL/h
d. 39 mL/h
43. BV is a 62 year old, obese female who visits a walk-in-clinic while her physician is away on
vacation. She presents to the pharmacist with the following prescription:
Losec® (omeprazole) 30 mg M: 30
Sig. i po daily
The pharmacist knows that this product is only available in 10 mg or 20 mg strengths and that BV’s
profile shows that she was previously on the 20 mg strength of this medication. The most appropriate
initial pharmacist response is to:
b. ask BV why she visited the clinic today and what the physician told her about the prescription.
c. dispense using omeprazole 10 mg and adjust the quantity and dose accordingly.
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d. assume the prescriber was thinking of Prevacid® (lansoprazole) 30 mg and change the
prescription accordingly.
44. A community pharmacy provides prescriptions for elderly patients in a nearby long-term care
facility where the nursing staff administer medications. When processing the monthly refills for NR, an
83 year old female resident, the pharmacist notices that NR’s lorazepam refills have been ordered
several days early on the last two occasions. Which of the following is the most appropriate action for
the pharmacist to take?
b. Ask the nurse at the residence to check NR’s medication administration records
c. Alert the prescribing physician that NR is taking more lorazepam than prescribed
d. Report the nursing staff at the residence for a fraudulent diversion of medication
45. A physician asks the pharmacist about obtaining a Special Access Programme (SAP) medication.
Which of the following statements is correct regarding accessing medications through SAP?
d. The manufacturer has the final authority on whether to supply the requested drug.
46. Which of the following classes of medications is most likely to be administered by the
intravenous piggyback method?
a. Antibiotics
b. Opioids
c. Insulins
47. Which of the following statements is correct regarding compounded sterile preparations (CSPs)
in a hospital pharmacy?
a. Immediate-use CSPs that are intended for urgent use situations have less stringent preparation
criteria than other CSPs.
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c. A pharmacist must be directly responsible for the labelling of all finished CSPs, even when
prepared by trained personnel.
d. Beyond-use dates are ideally determined by test sampling of the individual CSP batch.
48. Which of the following drug orders is incomplete and requires follow-up with the prescriber?
a. Zithromax Z-Pak® (azithromycin 250 mg), 2 tabs po day 1 and 1 tab po days 2 to 5
b. Flonase® (fluticasone) 100 mcg spray, 1 or 2 sprays in each nostril bid x 1 bottle
49. Which of the following factors is most likely to contribute to a widespread shortage of a
pharmaceutical product?
a. Lot recall
b. Patent expiration
50. Which of the following characteristics is the most important for assessing the bioequivalence of
two brands of a pharmaceutical dosage form?
a. Excipients
b. Physical appearance
c. Manufacturing cost
d. Pharmacokinetic properties
a. Gravol® (dimenhydrinate)
b. Enbrel® (etanercept)
d. EpiPen® (epinephrine)
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52. A male patient weighing 165 pounds is brought to the Emergency Room approximately six hours
after ingestion of an overdose of acetaminophen. Acetylcysteine IV will be administered according to
the following dosing regimen:
Loading Dose:150 mg/kg in 250 mL D5W IV given over 15 minutes, followed by: First infusion: 50 mg/kg
in 500 mL D5W IV given over 4 hours, followed by: Second infusion: 100 mg/kg in 1 L D5W given over 16
hours.
Which of the following represents the correct preparation of the three acetylcysteine IV bags needed for
this patient?
53. A patient is receiving warfarin (using 2 mg tablets in compliance packaging) according to the
following regimen:
Sunday (Su), Tuesday (Tu), Thursday (Th) and Friday (F) - 6 mg Monday (M), Wednesday (W) and
Saturday (Sa) - 2 mg
The patient’s recent INR results have been consistently high and it is decided that the weekly dose
should be reduced by 20%. Which of the following regimens would be most appropriate if the patient is
to continue using 2 mg tablets in compliance packaging?
c. 4 mg daily
d. 3.5 mg daily
54. JK is a 68 year old female with type 2 diabetes. Her current medications include: Perindopril 4
mg po daily
The pharmacist notices that JK is non-adherent with her medications, as she requests refills at
inappropriate frequencies. JK explains that she sometimes forgets to take her medications since there
are so many and she doesn't feel any difference from missing some of them. She often babysits her
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young grandchildren. The pharmacist offers to prepare JK's medications in compliance packaging. What
is the most valid reason for offering this service to JK? Compliance packaging:
55. MT, a registered pharmacy technician, has worked in a community pharmacy for five years. He is
well-trained and welcomes new learning opportunities. His manager now wants to assign a new project
related to the preparation of sterile products in the pharmacy. Which of the following steps should be
taken first with the technician?
b. Provide an overview of the project goals and the intended role of the technician
56. Which of the following criteria should be considered when reviewing a medication for addition
to the hospital formulary?
57. In deciding what medications are appropriate for its formulary, the hospital must consider a
drug’s efficacy, safety, associated workload, and acquisition cost. Several new intravenous antifungal
agents (drug A, drug B, and drug C), all with equal efficacy and safety to drug D, have recently become
available. Currently the hospital stocks drug D, which has been available for several years. Data for the
medications is as follows:
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B $5.00 bid 7
C $2.25 bid 7
D $2.25 qid 7
a. Drug A.
b. Drug B.
c. Drug C.
d. Drug D.
58. A pharmacy manager is conducting yearly performance reviews for her pharmacy assistants.
Which of the following statements is correct regarding this process?
b. Only performance issues of which the employee has been made aware should be included in the
review.
c. Staff who work in the same role should be ranked in comparison to one another.
d. The results of the performance review should not be considered for employee wage increases.
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d. Accept an authorization for a prescription refill from a prescriber over the telephone
62. DS wishes to protect her children from West Nile infection and requests information from the
pharmacist regarding insect repellents. Which of the following is correct information from the
pharmacist?
c. Products containing oil of citronella are not recommended for children under 6 years of age.
63. A pharmacist is planning a public information session regarding the prevention and
management of osteoporosis. Which of the following is an appropriate lifestyle recommendation to
include?
d. Rely on assistive devices such as canes or walkers to reduce the risk of falls
64. Which of the following scenarios best describes an effective strategy for a pharmacist to use to
assist a patient who is a smoker in the preparation stage of change?
a. Providing factual information about the consequences of smoking to raise the patient’s
awareness
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c. Helping the patient to set a quit date and announce the decision to family and friends
65. According to Canadian guidelines, which of the following patients should be offered the 13-
valent pneumococcal vaccine, in addition to the 23-valent vaccine?
66. In jurisdictions that do not require used fentanyl patches to be returned to pharmacies, which of
the following is appropriate advice to provide to a patient regarding disposal of a fentanyl patch?
a. Affix the used patch to a piece of paper and place in the household garbage
b. Affix the used patch to a piece of paper and place in a secured garbage container, out of reach
of children and pets
c. Fold the adhesive sides of the used patch against themselves and place it in the household
garbage
d. Fold the adhesive sides of the used patch against themselves and flush it down the toilet
67. Which of the following would be the most useful reference to learn what combination of
antiretroviral agents is currently recommended as a first-line therapy to treat HIV infection?
a. Meta-analyses
68. Type II statistical error in a study comparing two drug treatment regimens occurs when:
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b. a statistically significant difference exists but the difference is not clinically important.
c. the population under investigation does not represent the population with the disease.
d. the data shows no difference between two treatment regimens and a difference actually does
exist.
69. An adequately powered, randomized controlled trial conducted over two years demonstrated
that the primary outcome (a serious cardiovascular event) occurred in 15% of the patients who received
the new drug, whereas the primary outcome occurred in 25% of the patients who received a placebo.
The relative risk reduction achieved with the new drug is:
a. 10%.
b. 15%.
c. 25%.
d. 40%.
70. In an adequately powered, randomized controlled trial conducted over three years, a specific
serious side effect (i.e., reduction in leukocytes) with conventional therapy is seen in 0.5% of the study
sample. In patients who receive a newly discovered drug, only 0.45% experience the same side effect.
Based on these results, the minimum number of patients that would need to receive the new drug for
three years to statistically demonstrate the prevention of one episode of this side effect in at least one
patient (i.e., NNT) is:
a. 20.
b. 150.
c. 200.
d. 2000.
71. A pharmacist has received information regarding a new drug to treat hypertension. The
information is based on a two-month, placebo controlled, randomized study of 1000 adults that showed
a significant average decrease in systolic pressure from 160 mm Hg to 141 mm Hg and diastolic pressure
from 98 mm Hg to 86 mm Hg. The most common adverse reactions were stomach upset and dizziness.
Which of the following is the most significant limitation of this study?
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d. Long-term safety and efficacy were not assessed.
72. A drug is being evaluated for the risk of hyperkalemia. A large retrospective, case control study
has provided the following information:
Cases
(n=5000)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
73. A physician from the Emergency Department contacts the hospital pharmacist about a patient
visiting from the United States who has taken an apparent overdose of an unidentified tablet. The
physician has one of the tablets and is able to provide a description, as well as information about the
markings on the tablet. The most appropriate reference for the pharmacist to consult in order to
identify the tablet is:
a. Medline.
b. RxFiles.
c. Micromedex.
74. A non-inferiority trial is designed to test whether Drug X is non-inferior to Drug Y for clinical
cure of infection. The non-inferiority margin for the odds ratio is set to 10% with a one-sided alpha level
of 0.025. Therefore, the null hypothesis is that the cure rate for Drug X is inferior to Drug Y by more than
10%. Which of the following statements is correct?
a. If the upper bound of the 95% confidence interval is greater than 0, then Drug X is non-inferior
to Drug Y.
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b. If the lower bound of the 95% confidence interval is less than -10%, then Drug X is non-inferior
to Drug Y.
c. If the lower bound of the 95% confidence interval is greater than 1, then Drug X is superior to
Drug Y.
d. If the upper bound of the 95% confidence interval is greater than -10%, then Drug X is superior
to Drug Y.
75. Which of the following correctly ranks the hierarchy of strength of evidence for treatment
decisions in an individual patient from lowest to highest?
a. Single observational study, single randomized trial, N-of-1 randomized trial, physiologic studies
b. Single randomized trial, N-of-1 randomized trial, physiologic studies, single observational study
c. N-of-1 randomized trial, physiologic studies, single observational study, single randomized trial
d. Physiologic studies, single observational study, single randomized trial, N-of-1 randomized trial
76. When counselling a patient who is upset about a new diagnosis and need for medications, which
of the following strategies is NOT appropriate for the pharmacist to use?
77. In a hospital pharmacy, which of the following is the most effective strategy to enhance safety
and minimize the incidence of interpretation errors associated with verbal medication orders?
78. EF is a 54 year old male biochemistry professor with opioid misuse syndrome. EF's physician
wants to start Suboxone® (buprenorphine/naloxone) to help manage his condition. EF is familiar with
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naloxone but asks the pharmacist how buprenorphine works. The pharmacist should respond that
buprenorphine is a:
a. partial agonist at the kappa-opioid receptor and weak antagonist at the mu-opioid receptor.
b. partial agonist at the mu-opioid receptor and weak antagonist at the kappa-opioid receptor.
c. strong agonist at the kappa-opioid receptor and weak antagonist at the mu-opioid receptor.
d. strong agonist at the mu-opioid receptor and weak antagonist at the kappa-opioid receptor.
79. A 27 year old male presents to a community pharmacy for the first time and tells the pharmacist
that he experienced an allergy to a penicillin product as a child. His symptoms included hives, wheezing
and facial swelling, which resulted in hospitalized care. Which of the following is the most important
reason for a community pharmacist to document this type of information in the patient’s medication
profile record?
80. YZ is a patient who presents to the pharmacy for a refill of atenolol 50 mg tablets. The profile
shows one refill remaining. A 90-day supply of 90 tablets was dispensed and billed to his insurance plan
60 days ago. YZ tells the pharmacist that he is currently taking atenolol 50 mg twice daily, as directed by
his physician. Checking the original prescription determines that YZ was prescribed atenolol 50 mg daily.
What is the most appropriate initial pharmacist response?
c. Contact YZ’s prescriber to clarify the dose and the early refill
d. Offer to advance YZ with a supply of tablets and bill his insurance in 30 days
81. A community pharmacist decides to collaborate with the local health department to offer
expanded services for geriatric patients. Which of the following is the most appropriate first step to
take?
a. Hire an additional registered pharmacy technician to assist with the increased workload
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c. Seek financial sponsorship from pharmaceutical manufacturers
82. RL is a 53 year old female with type 2 diabetes mellitus who is managed with oral metformin.
Her current A1C is 8.0%. RL does take her metformin regularly but admits that she seldom cooks and
only has time after work to pick up convenience foods or take-out meals. Which of the following health
care professionals is the most appropriate to address RL’s needs?
a. Pharmacist
b. Dietitian
c. Family physician
d. Nurse practitioner
83. Which of the following is the most appropriate quality assurance measure to assess the
competency of a staff pharmacist?
84. Which of the following is NOT a benefit of performing medication reconciliation activities in a
hospital setting?
85. An attending physician used the computerized practitioner order entry (CPOE) system in the
hospital to order a single bolus infusion of 1 L Ringer’s lactate solution to be administered over one hour
to a patient. The evening pharmacist validated the electronic order without a stop date, and the nurse
verified the pharmacist’s entry. The medication administration record displayed an ongoing order of 1 L
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Ringer’s lactate to be given every hour, which the nurses administered. The patient received an excess 9
L of Ringer’s lactate in error. The unit pharmacist detected the error in the morning and notified the
physician. The patient had pleural effusions requiring transfer to the ICU. The pharmacist submits an
incident report in the hospital’s confidential internal safety incident reporting system. Whose identity is
the most appropriate to be documented in this report?
86. A hospital’s cardiac arrest committee decided to add epinephrine (for anaphylaxis) to all cardiac
arrest carts. The epinephrine to be used for anaphylaxis (given either subcutaneously or intramuscularly)
was labelled and stored outside of, but adjacent to, the cardiac arrest drug tray. This was done to avoid
any confusion with the epinephrine to be used for cardiac arrest (given intravenously), stored within the
drug tray.
After this change occurred, a patient, AH, developed hypotension after receiving a radiocontrast agent
for a CT scan. AH required intubation, which was done with difficulty due to tongue swelling. It took the
cardiac arrest team over one hour to stabilize and transfer her to the ICU. When AH was transferred to
ICU, she was found to be profoundly hypotensive. AH's family requested a safety review of this incident.
Which of the following is the most likely reason to explain AH’s condition? The cardiac arrest team:
a. lacked awareness that epinephrine for anaphylaxis was stored outside of the drug tray.
b. could only find the intravenous epinephrine, which cannot be used for anaphylaxis.
The next section includes EXAMPLES OF THE CASE SCENARIO FORMAT, in which there are two or more
questions in sequence, which are related to the patient information provided in the (bolded) stem
information shown at the top of the case.
PB is a 70 year old female who is on the final day of a 10-day course of cotrimoxazole
(sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim) DS, i po bid for mild pyelonephritis. PB’s medical conditions include
hypertension and osteoarthritis, for which she takes enalapril 5 mg po bid and acetaminophen 650 mg
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po qid. PB has been feeling unwell for the past two days, complaining of abdominal pain, diarrhea, and
muscle weakness. She presents to the emergency department, where it is discovered that her serum
potassium level is 5.9 mmol/L (normal: 3.5-5.0 mmol/L) and her estimated creatinine clearance is 70
mL/min.
88. PB’s hyperkalemia puts her at risk for developing which of the following?
a. Arrhythmias
b. Renal failure
c. Rhabdomyolysis
d. Metabolic alkalosis
89. One month later, PB returns to her family physician with symptoms of another urinary tract
infection (UTI). When hospitalized last month, her urinalysis showed resolution of the original UTI. This
is now PB’s third UTI in the past six months. She is still taking enalapril and acetaminophen as before,
and she has no known allergies. After resolution of the current infection, which of the following is the
most appropriate regimen for UTI prophylaxis for PB?
a. Cotrimoxazole
b. Trimethoprim
c. Nitrofurantoin
PQ is a 75 year old patient who has just been diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Her past medical history is
significant for heart failure, type 2 diabetes mellitus, anemia, and chronic stable angina, all of which are
well-controlled. Her medications include:
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Ferrous fumarate 300 mg po daily Vitamin D 1000 units po daily Glyburide 2.5 mg po bid
a. age.
b. gender.
c. diabetes.
d. metoprolol use.
91. Appropriate counselling and follow up for PQ with initiation of levothyroxine includes all of the
following, EXCEPT:
c. physician follow up is needed in six to eight weeks to have her thyroid function tests repeated.
d. closer monitoring of her angina should be done during dosage titration of levothyroxine.
92. Which of the following parameters is the most appropriate for PQ's self-evaluation of the
effectiveness of levothyroxine therapy?
a. Increased energy
b. Weight loss
c. Improved vision
A family health team is reviewing recent guidelines for dyslipidemia and cardiovascular risks. Physician
colleagues ask the pharmacist for information on the recommendations for monitoring patients in
various categories.
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93. The current recommendation for performing a baseline plasma lipid profile in men is to screen
all males over the age of:
a. 35 years.
b. 40 years.
c. 50 years.
d. 55 years.
94. Lipid profile screening is important in all patients who have a history of:
a. COPD.
b. GERD.
c. diabetes.
d. liver disease.
95. Which of the following is the primary assessment tool recommended to quantify a patient’s 10-
year risk for total cardiovascular disease?
d. CHADS2 score
HM is a regular client at the pharmacy. He has been taking quetiapine 300 mg po bid for eight months to
help control his schizophrenia symptoms but he has recently noticed that some of his symptoms have
been worsening. Prior to starting quetiapine, HM took risperidone therapy for two years. HM is a regular
smoker and smokes between 10 to 20 cigarettes per day. HM tells the pharmacist that now his
psychiatrist would like to change his regimen to clozapine.
96. In assessing the possible change to clozapine for HM, which of the following statements is the
most appropriate for the pharmacist to consider?
a. This change is appropriate, as clozapine may help patients who fail on other antipsychotics.
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b. This change is not appropriate, as clozapine will likely produce the same effect as quetiapine.
c. This change is not appropriate, as the cost of monitoring and risk of adverse effects with
clozapine is too high.
d. This change is not appropriate, because the preferred recommendation is to add clozapine to
the current quetiapine.
97. HM is concerned about the possible adverse effects from clozapine. When discussing monitoring
with HM, which of the following statements is the most appropriate to include?
a. Dry eyes and dry mouth occur frequently and may be managed with nonprescription
supplements.
b. Problems affecting the blood do occur rarely and regular blood lab work is required.
c. Cigarette smoking may increase the likelihood of experiencing side effects from clozapine.
d. Parkinsonian and other movement disorders may occur even with low doses of clozapine.
WW is a 55 year old, obese male (BMI 35) with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. His most recent fasting
blood glucose is 9.6 mmol/L and A1C is 8%. He also suffers from hypertension and osteoarthritis in his
knees. His current medications are: ramipril 20 mg po daily and acetaminophen 500 mg po qid.
98. Which of the following agents is the most appropriate choice for WW at this time?
a. Gliclazide
b. Sitagliptin
c. Canagliflozin
d. Metformin
99. If the anti-hyperglycemic agent chosen for WW is having its intended benefit, the most
appropriate therapeutic outcome would be:
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d. no episodes of hyperglycemia.
100. After starting on the anti-hyperglycemic agent, WW would like advice regarding self-monitoring
of his blood glucose. Which of the following statements is most appropriate for WW?
a. Blood glucose should be tested upon waking and before each meal.
c. WW should avoid testing at alternate sites (e.g., forearm) since accuracy is reduced in obese
patients.
d. Self-monitoring will help WW to adjust the dosing of oral therapy in relation to meal size.
TK is a 63 year old male with chronic kidney disease (Cr Cl = 29 mL/min/1.73 m2) and gout. He
experienced his last gout attack about two months ago. Today his toe is extremely painful, hot, red and
swollen. At a walk-in clinic, he receives a prescription for naproxen 500 mg po bid for five days. TK’s
other current medication is pravastatin 20 mg po at bedtime.
101. What drug therapy problem should the pharmacist identify for TK?
102. Following successful resolution of the acute episode, TK’s physician decides that he should
initiate allopurinol. TK should be advised to:
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TK is a 54 year old male who is a new patient at the pharmacy. He presents today with a new
prescription for 20 diazepam 10 mg, i po qid and taper as directed over five to seven days. In discussion
with the pharmacist, TK admits that he has abused alcohol for the last three years, but that he stopped
drinking yesterday when he went to an alcohol treatment centre. He discloses that he has not been
looking after himself or eating well in recent months. His current symptoms include agitation, insomnia,
and tremulousness. His medical history is otherwise insignificant.
103. Which of the following drug therapy problems is the most important current issue for the
pharmacist to identify for TK?
104. During the consultation, TK notices that his neighbour’s daughter, Cheryl, is employed as a
front- shop cashier in the pharmacy. He feels uncomfortable about providing further information about
his medical condition. What is the most appropriate initial action to be taken by the pharmacist?
c. Offer a private counselling area and advise TK that no information will be disclosed to Cheryl
d. Advise TK that alcohol abuse is a medical problem and he should not feel uncomfortable about it
105. Later that same day, TK returns to the pharmacy with his vial of diazepam. He tells the
pharmacist that he did not receive the labelled quantity of the medication. The pharmacist determines
that a counting error did occur. What is the best way for the pharmacist to prevent this type of error in
the pharmacy in the future?
a. Require that all narcotics and benzodiazepine prescriptions be counted only by pharmacist staff
b. Obtain signatures from patients picking up orders to confirm receipt of the correct labelled
quantity
c. Double count all narcotics and benzodiazepines and document on the prescription hardcopy
d. Use an electronic pill counter to ensure accurate prescription quantities for these medications
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QUESTIONS 109 TO 111 INCLUSIVE REFER TO THE FOLLOWING:
AE is a 54 year old female with obesity (BMI 42) and osteoporosis, who takes the following medications:
Ranitidine
AE is scheduled to undergo bariatric surgery that will result in a bypass of the duodenum, proximal
jejunum, and all of her stomach except for the cardia. Her surgeon has asked AE to discuss any
necessary modifications to her medication regimen with her pharmacist.
106. Which of the following physiologic factors would be expected to increase following AE's gastric
bypass surgery?
a. Gastric pH
d. Enterohepatic recirculation
107. Which of the following online resources is the most useful for determining appropriate
postsurgical modifications to AE's medication regimen?
a. RxFiles
b. CredibleMeds
c. PubMed
108. Which of the following alternatives is the most appropriate recommendation for the pharmacist
to suggest for switching AE's osteoporosis therapy?
a. Teriparatide
b. Etidronate
c. Denosumab
d. Raloxifene
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QUESTIONS 112 TO 113 INCLUSIVE REFER TO THE FOLLOWING:
TG, a 43 year old male, is admitted to the Emergency Department (ED) following a car accident. TG is
diagnosed with an open femur fracture. In the trauma treatment area, the extensive leg wound requires
thorough cleaning prior to fracture reduction. TG did not take any medications prior to the accident and
is not known to have any medical conditions.
109. The ED physician asks the pharmacist what IV antibiotic prophylaxis should be given to TG for
the open fracture. Which of the following would provide the most appropriate empiric antibiotic
coverage for TG?
a. Cefazolin + metronidazole
b. Clindamycin + vancomycin
c. Metronidazole + gentamicin
d. Cefazolin + gentamicin
110. Following the fracture reduction surgery, TG is transferred from the ED to the orthopedics ward
for monitoring before he can be discharged to a rehabilitation center. Which of the following therapies
for deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis is the most appropriate while TG remains bedridden?
a. Clopidogrel
b. Enoxaparin
c. Warfarin
d. Rivaroxaban
FN, an 83 year old female, has early onset Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, mild heart failure, and
urinary incontinence. She often becomes agitated in the evening. Her current medications include the
following:
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111. Which of FN's medications is most likely contributing to her urinary incontinence?
a. Levodopa-carbidopa
b. Risperidone
c. Bumetanide
d. Ramipril
a. Risperidone
b. Donepezil
c. Ramipril
d. Calcium citrate
Amoxicillin suspension is available in two strengths as shown below Amoxicillin 125 mg/5 mL (100 mL
bottle size) costs $3.20 Amoxicillin 250 mg/5 mL (100 mL bottle size) costs $5.40
Using the information provided above, the pharmacist is required to fill the following prescription:
Amoxicillin 187.5 mg po tid x 10 days
113. Which of the following provides the most cost-effective dosing regimen, rounding to full
bottles?
114. Which of the following provides the smallest, correct volume of amoxicillin suspension needed
for each dose of this prescription?
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b. 7.5 mL of amoxicillin 125 mg/5 mL
EP is a 68 year old female with hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and a seizure disorder. EP has no known
medication allergies or intolerances. Her current medications are:
For the past three days, EP has experienced fever, dysuria, increased urinary frequency, and urgency.
She consulted her family physician who diagnosed a lower urinary tract infection. Urinary culture and
sensitivity results are pending. The family physician prescribes the following empiric treatment:
115. Which of the following organisms is most likely to be the cause of EP's urinary tract infection?
a. Group A streptococcus
b. Coagulase-positive staphylococcus
c. Serratia marcescens
d. Escherichia coli
116. What drug therapy problem should the pharmacist identify for EP?
a. The length of treatment with sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim should only be three days for EP.
d. Antibiotic treatment should be started after the urinary culture and sensitivity report is
obtained.
117. During the same appointment, EP’s family physician orders a repeat phenytoin level. The
following results are obtained:
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Albumin = 30 g/L
The physician contacts the pharmacist to obtain a recommendation for adjusting the dose of phenytoin
based on the following formula:
Which of the following is the most appropriate recommendation for the pharmacist to provide to EP’s
physician?
a. Increase the dose of phenytoin to 300 mg po at bedtime and repeat the phenytoin level in one
week
b. Decrease the dose of phenytoin to 200 mg po at bedtime and repeat the phenytoin level in one
week
c. Increase the dose of phenytoin to 350 mg po at bedtime and repeat the phenytoin level in one
week
d. Maintain the current dose of phenytoin and repeat the phenytoin level in three months
DK is a 50 year old female who asks the pharmacist about using bismuth subsalicylate for indigestion.
She has a stressful job and reports that she had a peptic ulcer which resolved approximately one year
ago. She is training to run a 10 km race in two months. On training days (three to four days per week)
she takes ibuprofen 200 mg po tid for shin pain. Her father died from a heart attack at the age of 60
years, so DK takes EC-ASA 81 mg po daily. Her other medications include:
DK is a non-smoker and drinks two cups of coffee per day and has two alcoholic beverages daily with
dinner.
118. The pharmacist should be concerned about DK's risk for NSAID-associated toxicity/adverse
effects due to her:
a. lifestyle.
b. age.
c. medical history.
d. family history.
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119. Which of the following is most appropriate advice for the pharmacist to provide to DK for
managing her current GI upset?
120. Three weeks later the pharmacist follows up with DK. DK states that she is still having occasional
indigestion, especially after eating out. DK also states that she has switched from using ibuprofen to
naproxen 220 mg po tid, since she continues to have shin pain after her daily runs. Her race is happening
in four weeks. What is reasonable advice for the pharmacist to give to DK?
c. Advise DK to elevate her legs after each run and apply heat to her shins
10. (a) 35. (a) 60. (c) 85. (b) 110. (d)
11. (c) 36. (d) 61. (b) 86. (b) 111. (c)
12. (b) 37. (c) 62. (b) 87. (b) 112. (d)
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13. (c) 38. (a) 63. (a) 88. (a) 113. (b)
14. (c) 39. (d) 64. (b) 89. (d) 114. (c)
15. (a) 40. (a) 65. (d) 90. (c) 115. (a)
16. (c) 41. (b) 66. (b) 91. (a) 116. (b)
17. (c) 42. (d) 67. (c) 92. (c) 117. (c)
18. (c) 43. (d) 68. (b) 93. (a) 118. (d)
19. (c) 44. (d) 69. (d) 94. (b) 119. (b)
20. (d) 45. (c) 70. (c) 95. (a) 120. (d)
21. (d) 46. (b) 71. (d) 96. (b) 121. (c)
22. (c) 47. (b) 72. (d) 97. (c) 122. (d)
23. (c) 48. (d) 73. (d) 98. (a) 123. (b)
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